Core

1

I didn't know what to say when Bill dropped the question. He was never the type to venture outside for much any reason besides strictly dealing with installing new components to the PC system or upgrading hardware. In fact, that was one of the biggest reasons he and Misty went their separate ways. So I had heard at least, but I don't make the Gym Leader's personal lives my business.

This was my business, however, because he made it my business.

He waited patiently for a reply, legs crossed and readily expecting some sort of intelligible reply from me.

"Do you really think this will work?" It was all I could muster as I only began to visualize the task in itself.

"It's the best chance we'll have," He replied cooly. Clearly, he had thought over this for quite a while. "I've read many articles from esteemed peers about Eevee and its unique genetic structure. Eevee changes to its environment as the situation calls. Though," Bill reached down to take the young pokemon's eartip into his hand, rubbing the fur affectionately. "The transformation to Glaceon and Leafeon typically involves the presence of a great energy source from within the environment."

I wouldn't deny Blackthorn's mountainous trail to the south having a special energy to the place. A frown creased my face and I shifted a little to the side, gauging the expressions of his siblings across the room. They seemed confident in his genius.

"If this were a simple matter, I'd be more cooperative, but..." Bill's eyes set on me and rose from his seat, tense at the tone of rejection.

"Lance, please! I've considered it, there is no other trainer in town who can help me make this trip." I wrinkled my nose, a little displeased at being boxed into responsibility. Sure it was certainly another strong point; Pryce has become too old and much too weak in spirit to dare such a trek and Clair's Dragonair was not toned for it. As if she really had time to do this on top of upkeep of the Den and the Gym.

Okay, so there wasn't anyone else.

"I understand that, but as I was saying, it's not just a simple matter of flying up to the highest peak by Mount Silver." He calmed a little, sitting back down and lacing his fingers together. Was he so nervous?

"Well. Why not?"

"The heat last summer scorched a lot of the fruit-bearing trees throughout the area. The wild pokemon have been more restless as they compete for the basic necessities of survival." I sighed quietly, leaning against the wall a little in trying to find some comfort in his small home. "You've heard the reports of Ursaring breaking into homes and attacking civilians. So, now we've gotten a foot of snow and you want me to escort you into their territories with my dragon pokemon? My dragons, who may I add, have not even seen ice or snow in over 5 years, much less endured against such elements?" This was a fundamental for any decent trainer, but I spoke softly as to not sound harsh. Bill, after all, was not any kind of trainer to begin with.

It was his turn to not know what to say.

"That is what you're asking of me, correct?"

"Yeah," He mutter dejectedly, getting to understand now just how great of a feat he expects. I could almost see the confidence drain right out of his face. At least there's one hazardous endeavor avoided-- "I just thought," Bill began again quietly, avoiding my eyes. "Because you're the Champion, you could..."

I---I cannot believe he played that card. At all. I never imagined the respectable Bill, science whiz kid, could have ever stooped so low. Honestly taken off guard, I growled a little in the back of my throat as I tried to fight back the anger that naturally arose.

That was all I really needed to do it seemed as he shrunk in place and tried to spit out an apology faster than his lips would move.

"I'm sorry, it's just, I had faith you could do it and you know--"

"Champion of what," Was all I could hiss without loudly ripping him to shreds. I was sore---I was infuriated. I cannot believe he brought that up. Bill's backpedaling ceased as he resigned to staring at the ground guiltily.

He blew his chance at convincing me as the sound of his front door rapped shut behind my cape.

Part of my own anger was towards myself. It burned me up inside like an emotional wound, a weakness, a flaw I couldn't shake no matter how hard I tried to accept the reality.

It wasn't my fault. Just because I rose to the top, became the star of Johto and overseer of the the Pokemon competition, it didn't make me god. Didn't make me any kind of supreme ruler, I was nothing but a figurehead and a final destination for eager challengers like Gold.

The fact that I was helpless as the league disintegrated slowly but surely makes it unbearable to cope with. It felt like I had watched a beloved pet get run over in heavy traffic and the horror of being stuck there, on the curb, as it struggled with its fatal wounds to its bitter, cruel end. I couldn't shake the responsibility of the league going down because I was in charge. I was the Champion. But I didn't run off the members of the Elite Four; they fled to help their homes cope with tragedies. I didn't kill Chuck, or any of the other 747 victims of Cianwood City as it sank into the sea overnight. I didn't demand Jasmine or Whitney to stay and struggle to protect their gyms as they took on the rising waters.

I didn't do anything, and that may just be the reason I'm kicked to the curb. Because I should have done something. It wasn't my fault, yet I am responsible.

To this day, I don't even know what I should have done, and the League officially disbanded 6 years ago.

The Dragon's Den is the only place on the continent where you can always rely on the weather inside. It is deep and recessed within a cave that extends beneath the city. There are some areas in the dirt and stone lined ceiling where you can see exposed bones from centuries ago and old, rusted pipelines slowly sinking into our sacred grounds. There are attendants and assistants under tutorship who look after these things as they aid the elders in respecting the Den and the Dragons that inhabit it.

It's the only physical place in the world I look to as home.

My fingers are red and raw from the icy wind outside, descending down the hallways unobstructed besides the formal greetings. I opened the gate and stepped inside, taking a deep, much needed breath of the humid and familiar air.

"Hey Lance." The only casual greeting; I really didn't want to talk to her now. I still felt aggressive, felt... remorse. I continued on to the edge of the water, sitting down and tugging off the scarf. The sound of high heels followed right behind me. "So what did Bill want?"

"The impossible. But it's what we all want." I cracked my knuckles, leaning in to look deep into the glimmering water. The faint silhouettes of young Dratini tussling was only broken by Clair's reflection, leaning over me.

"Yeah? That's a pretty big order to fill. Except, Bill doesn't seem like the kind of guy to ask for that." She never was a fan of an indirect answer. I never really have been either, come to think of it. "What did he really want Lance?"

"Nothing." The word taste bland on my dry lips. "And is none of your concern."

"If it has to do with the Den, then it certainly is my concern." I fear I'll be fighting off a headache soon.

"No, it doesn't. Look, I'm just trying to unwind and warm up a little. I'm sick of this damned snow."

There were two prevailing reasons I've come to hate winter. The first, primary reason being the cold. I practically grew up in the Den alongside my partners, I don't like the chill in my bones or the aching that comes with it. And the second was how the Blackthorn Gym always closes for the coldest months of the year so Clair can seal up and protect the Dragon's Den. Clair being inside the Den at the same time as I am happens to be the most inconvenient and frustrating thing imaginable.

Without any warning, I felt a push and struggled briefly to keep my balance before tumbling into the warm waters. Even heavily clothed from outside, it didn't take much for me to break the surface and give my assailant a threatening look she would hopefully not forget for a while. She smirked, unfazed by my sour mood.

"That's what you get for not listening to me!"

I love my cousin, but sometimes, I really, really don't.

"What is your problem?" I gripped on the stone-carved edge and pulled myself up, drenched and fully agitated. "Yeah, thanks Clair, I just happen to be in the mood for catching pneumonia! How did you know?"

"Oh wah. You act all tough but you're just a crybaby half the time, Lance."

"You wanna make something of it," I snapped back loudly, getting close physically to remind her who she was trying to mess with. After a moment of waiting for her to dare try something else, she backed down silently. It was only somewhat satisfying, as I've never come second to her and a battle could just make me feel better about the situation that was dropped on me from Bill. Letting it go, I took off my cape and struggling impatiently with my waterlogged jacket.

I could still feel her eyes watching my every move.

"Come on, what's wrong." Clair grabbed a wet sleeve and helped it off before I just about ripped it.

"Nothing's wrong Clair, you're just bothering me," I tried to sound calm, but the more I tried the more she could sense that I was disturbed. Rigorous training within in the clan heightened that ability in both of us. There wasn't much I could hide from her and nothing she could hide from me. She tapped her foot, waiting for some kind of confession as I rung out my jacket.

"Lance. Do you even know when the last time you challenged me was?" I paused. It was true I usually didn't challenge other people unless I have a compelling reason. When was the last time I challenged her though? "I don't appreciate being lied to."

I bit my lip, holding back the retort of how much I really appreciate being shoved in the water when just outside its 20degrees, but I fought it off; it would be only taking her bait.

"I'm not lying to you. There is nothing wrong, I'm just in a bad mood. Leave me alone." She crossed her arms, unconvinced. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, flicking droplets. "Please. I want to be left alone to train."

I don't think it worked, but it suited the purpose. She scoffed without another word, turning sharply on her heel to sulk out. Watching the gate click shut, I slumped back to the ground.

She's the biggest pain in the ass I've ever met.

Many reports from all sources had called the closing of the League a shameful tragedy and that we may as well have nailed a stake in the hope of the people. When I heard DJ Mary invite that dirtbag columnist on for the prime time guest, I remember feeling this same way as now; offended. They didn't understand, they were being critical of me without even approaching me, or any of us, upon the subject! Hope wasn't killed by the Pokemon League, it was killed by the burden of this changing landscape. How could we endorse the idea that civilians should travel freely through the countryside where there are no passable routes, no habitable towns to rest in, no stable law enforcement agencies or Pokemon Centers? We had no choice and I had no choice.

Thing is, they never once mentioned me by name or status, all that mattered was the officially sanctioned Pokemon Gyms throughout Johto had been cut from 8 throughout the participating cities and towns down to 4: Violet, Azalea, Ecrueteak, and Blackthorn. A few months after the league shut its doors, Bugsy voluntarily closed off his gym as well to pursue bigger projects like preserving the Town. The reporter went on to say that instead of adapting to the circumstances and keeping the doors open, that we, as officials within the league, had thrown in the towel.

Mary reported briefly of how it happened to each of the gyms, the first to go down was the most shocking, too terrible to conceive. But it was real; rain fell as if the sky were mourning the loss of its child and the storm that slammed into Cianwood engulfed it hungrily. Only a handful narrowly escaped their demise by fighting through the gales of wind upon their bird pokemon. It was the first of many terrible storms to land upon the coastlines as Goldenrod and Olivine were next, though both managed to evacuate. Olivine took the worst of the blow as the sea ate the land up to farms; Goldenrod lost their entire west side. This brought down the Radio Tower and the Magnet Train Station for many months, only through perseverance was the Radio Tower rebuilt to keep the people in touch. Azalea was the last to close as the coastline crept forward everyday to the edge of the forest; the Slowpoke Well long flooded and gone. Our neighbors in Mahogany Town only could have wished for such a blessing of too much water for they had nothing to survive. Lake of Rage dried up completely along with the forest, laying the Magikarp to bake in the sun. Ice Path melted away, and the pokemon within the caves died off. People left Mahogany because only a barren and dry wasteland remained.

Not one of the Gym Leaders were ever prosecuted for abandoning their positions because even they had more couth than to further victimize the victims. After all, it was so much easier to blame me, who only had 2 members remaining of the Elite Four and only 4 Gyms that could stay open. All these people rallied around the idea that we were cowards, they only wanted someone to pay for things that no one could control. I guess that's just what they got because I was the Champion, and now I am not.

After listening to the entire, painful hour through the poor reception on my PokeGear, I seem to recall now that happened to be the last time I challenged Clair to a battle.

I must have done something right because no one dare stepped into the Den till evening had long come and gone. The hours there in solitude with Dragonite and the Dratini was tranquil, slowly unwinding. Never a day went by that I did not think about what happened to the League and my reign; still, how could Bill have the nerve to try and use that against me? As if the title of Champion meant I could part the seas and turn water into the finest wine.

Dragonite decided not to play around with the young pokemon, opting to sit beside me and take in the serenity. He understood me as well as I understood him; there was no one closer to me in the world than this pokemon.

Soft, slow footsteps finally broke the silence, but they were certainly not Clair's. I figured it was probably one of the elders coming to check on the Den or myself as if my personal business really concerned them. I'm not the 'Blessed' child of the family after all, it couldn't really trouble them so much.

When it was Pryce's old bones who took a seat next me, I was dumbfounded.

"Are you-- even permitted to be down here," Was the first thing that came to mind, broken as I grasped for words. And since when? I've never seen or heard anything about the retired gym leader taking casual strolls into our haven. Did any of the Gym Leaders besides Clair have such a right?

He turned his head and looked at me, the creases in his face no longer fierce but etched forever in his wrinkles was the scowl of his arrogant, cold days.

"Does this trouble you?" I guess not, it wasn't my business. I sighed, shrugging with admittance and glancing over at Dragonite in the corner of my eye. He seemed curious too, but much more like a young kitten interested in a new found toy. There were not many people my Dragonite disliked. Pryce took the answer, watching ahead as the Magikarp jumped about, trying to keep up with the Dratini skating the water's surface. For a short while, it was like he wasn't even there.

"What would you do if this place was destroyed," He asked suddenly and I felt my stomach drop at the words. It's not as if I've never considered it; with so many other homes and habitats being destroyed, it was a natural paranoia to have. But no one dared speak of such a blasphemy.

"I...guess I would try to rebuild it. It depends." It was the only thing that seemed to make sense. Thinking over it more, I added," I'd rather try not to let it be destroyed."

"By caring about it at all, you leave yourself open to that possibility." His voice was gentle but it rubbed me wrong as much as any insult.

"So what? You're saying I should detach myself from things I care about as to not be fearful?" I watched Dragonite dip his tail into the water, fishing for the Magikarp. "I'm not afraid."

"I never said you were. It's just a risk you take."

"Do you regret your risk of losing Mahogany?" Never had I brought up the issue with him, I always kept away from Mahogany as to not open a wound. He brought on the possibility of Dragon's Den suffering a similar fate, though, so I tried to feel more justified about it now. His face furrowed, troubled.

"At first. Just as when my Piloswine died." I was grateful as silence took ahold of the Den again. Dragonite rose his tail from the pool and brought up the flailing Magikarp, tossing it back with a sharp flick. He seemed to listen to our conversation, but didn't grasp the severity of it. He didn't see the video or read the reports about these people and pokemon dying all around the nation. Dragonite knew things were wrong in the world just as I did, but not in the same way that I did.

I felt physically ill considering the idea of watching Dragonite slowly die like Pryce's Piloswine. I tried to think of anything else, but it was useless.

"What after that though," I asked, licking my dry lips. "You don't regret it anymore?"

"I couldn't. That is the journey of a trainer's life, holding onto these risks and rewards." He paused for a moment to stretch his back sorely; I guess after so long of absence from it, he wasn't used to the cold weather either. "When I was young, I knew I could lose it big, but it didn't stop me from making the challenge. I never thought I could experience such a thing as I have, but the love and memories I hold of my home and my pokemon are the most precious trophy I could ever hope to keep. And if I could do it again, I would."

He struggled for a minute to get up on his cane after having sat on the ground, rising up to look at the glorious statues throughout the Den. "It is a nice break in here from the winter."

I only nodded, trying to digest the conversation as he quietly shuffled out.

Bill was surprised to see me again, though I wasn't too thrilled. He stepped aside, allowing me entrance to his new, dwarfed home again. Inside, I was made aware that I had probably interrupted his family's supper, as their eyes were fixed on me in the other room like glue. Waving them off, I turned to face him staring back at me with this stupid, elated look spread across his face.

"Did you change your mind?" I snorted with indignation, forcing him to shrink away like a mouse. "You're still mad...?"
Not necessarily, but I didn't want him getting on my bad side every time he needed something of me.

"We will go tomorrow," I started firmly, keeping to business. "Under my conditions."

Continue? Y/N?